League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA June 3, 2008 Election
	Tennessee Maria Reed Answers Questions Candidate for School Director; Oakland Unified School District; District 1

The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Oakland and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How do you assess truancy in the School District; what changes would you advocate?

The district can reduce truancy, conflicts, and fights in the schools by teaching children meditation through deep breathing, soothing music, yoga, qi gong, swimming, dancing and other movements. Students should be trained both at home and at school on how to eat a healthy diet. Diverse literature and history are key in helping the problem of truancy. Instead of just learning reading, writing and Math students need to learn Science, History, Geography,P.E., Arts and Music. Field trips are vital to a students' learning as well. The school district should make sure that every classroom has a telephone and that the teachers and administration have each parents' phone numbers at home and work to make sure that everyone is on the same level. Teachers should not teach to the test.

2. What is your opinion of the District's School Success program?

After doing a lot of research on the Expect Success Program I noticed that the students' performance records have dipped considerably in the last three years. That means to me that the third graders, ninth graders and twelfth graders are not getting the preparation that they need. After looking at an article in the tribune I noticed that freshmen at Cal State East Bay are not up to college level standards in English and Math. I think that the "one size fits all" notion needs to be eliminated. The standards are way too high. Not every student can be good at everything. Some students score high in Math but not in Reading and vice versa. We are also dealing with students who have learning and physical disabilities, students who are at a socioeconomic disadvantage, and students who have English at a Second Language. Students who have disabilities interpret questions differently than "normal" students. The tests do not cater to the needs and learning styles of every student. There are a lot of adjustments that need to be made to Expect Success.

3. How might the School District work more effectively with the City?

The School District and the city can benefit from coming together to resolve this issue. The school district needs to work with the city on reducing crime, bringing back affordable housing, and making sure that students have the opportunity to bring their students to schools outside of their neighborhoods to name a few things that need to be done.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 13, 2008 14:03
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